Harbor Country in southwest Michigan. Beautiful beaches with wonderful sunsets. Many B&Bs, some great restaurants. Antique shops and art galleries. Very quiet, nature orientated area.

I would suggest Union Pier area for you stay. Only minutes from a small town of New Buffalo, but a world of difference. Exactly what you're looking for.

~1.5 hour trip by car or train from downtown Chicago.

www.harborcountry.org

Highly recommend Pine Garth Inn in Union Pier.

With all due respect to the previous poster, I think that you might prefer the Galena, IL area.

Why? If you take a look at a map, you'll see that O'Hare (while part of Chicago proper) is to the northwest of the downtown area. Harbor Country (the marketing term for an area in SW Michigan) is to the east-northeast. You have to pass through Indiana to get there, meaning that you go through the worst of the Chicago traffic to get to Harbor Country - and then back again when you return the rental vehicle.

IMHO, it does take longer than 1.5 hours as well, probably closer to 2-2.5 hours, but (of course) that depends on the traffic and road construction in the area (and there is always that with which to contend).

On the other hand, traffic diminishes greatly once you get beyond O'Hare to the west-northwest. So, although the driving distance to Galena is a little further (around 2.5 hours, maybe a little more), the traffic isn't the same.

Galena is in the NW corner of Illinois, situated on bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River. Something like 90% of the downtown area is on the National Register of Historic Places. Take a look at the www.galena.org website, under "History Abounds".

They don't have the beaches, but the area is lovely with rolling hills. You can hike on the Galena River Trail (starts in Galena); Apple River Canyon State Park or one of the other parks nearby; and/or you can canoe or kayak on the Mississippi River, if you wish.

If you didn't want to stay in Galena (and I don't know why you wouldn't), there are a couple of resorts in the area: Chestnut Mountain (overlooking the Mississippi) and Eagle Ridge.

If you do decide on Galena, take the Old Stagecoach Road in - which, appropriately enough, was a route used by stagecoaches.

Oops! I forgot to mention, I've stayed in Galena several times myself. Once was at the Aldrich Guest House, which I tremendously enjoyed.

P.S. If you do a little search, there is a Chicago Tribune December 5, 1999 article entitled "Coach Travel" about traveling the Old Stagecoach Trail and its history.

I've stayed both places numerous times and I do love Galena, but Harborcountry area IMHO is EXACTLY what the OP is looking for.

Hardly any driving required once you settle in, not true for Galena territory. Very quiet, almost tropical feeling to the place, romantic walks on the beach, great restaurants, wonderful quiet nature walks, wineries, etc...

To offset the driving time out, the OP will have to get to downtown on the way back. They will have to pass throufgh the NW side of the city at least once regardless what they chose to do.

btw, it never, ever took us more than 2 hours from Norridge area to Union Pier, and I'm talking Friday afternoons. YMMV.

It's 75 miles from downtown to New Buffalo.

It's 100 miles to Galena.

At the end it's about the same, especially since the OP is coming back to DT Chicago.

JMHO.

Thanks for all your input. Looks like I've got a good couple of targets to research. Much appreciated. JD

I knew that I would have to defend my suggestion to the OP, which is why I mentioned some (but not all) of my reasons above.

AA, I like Harbor Country as well and have nothing against it. In fact, I was going to Harbor Country (at least) annually l-o-n-g before it ever was termed "Harbor Country". And I have been traveling to Galena for 20+ years. So I'm pretty familiar with both locations - although I've been to Harbor Country more often, it being closer to friends and family in Indiana. (An ex-co-worker of mine owns a lovely, small place in Galena, though.)

The OP will be picking up the rental vehicle at O'Hare. Unless they want to pay the (large) surcharge for dropping it off at another location, they'll have to drive back to O'Hare to return that vehicle. Hence, they will have to drive through that traffic twice if they go eastwardly (before they ultimately stay in downtown Chicago).

I certainly wouldn't recommend them to park it it in downtown Chicago with such the hefty parking fees, would you?

Norridge is 15 minutes (?) southeast from O'Hare, isn't that correct? A little closer to wherever in Harbor Country. So we are talking about just a small amount of time difference between the two. The point I made was that it is not a 1.5 hour drive but closer to 2-2.5 (depending on the traffic and if there is construction). I urge the OP to check the status of road construction in Indiana, if they are planning on going to Harbor Country.

IMHO, Harbor Country is far more family-oriented than Galena. The OP specifically preferred a place with no children.

I really don't understand your comment why you think that you need a vehicle less in Harbor Country than in Galena, once you settle in. If anything, it's the opposite. Those tiny little towns in Harbor Country don't support a large number of restaurants and shops, not that you are talking about a lengthy drive to and from any of them. I really think, though, this is a moot point.

One thing that the OP will need to do, if they are considering driving out of state, is to confirm with the rental car agency that there is no problem in doing so. As you are aware, Michigan is a "no-fault" state and that could affect the insurance which the OP might be purchasing through the rental car agency.

Wherever the OP stays, I would urge them to check the reviews on TripAdvisor.

JD, sorry - didn't realize you had posted while I was composing my response above.

Yes - the whole idea is to know your options and then make the choice which is best for you both.